Everyone loves IU. We love the beautiful campus; we love Hoosier basketball; we love Little 500 weekend and we love Bloomington. \nWait, who says IU automatically equals Bloomington?\nApparently the other seven campuses in the IU system beg to differ. And who’s their ringleader? \nIU-Purdue University at Indianapolis of course. \nThe election of former Interim Provost Michael McRobbie to the position of University president has served to highlight the seemingly ever-present power struggle between IU’s two biggest campuses, IU-Bloomington and IUPUI.\nIn fact, the President of the IUPUI Faculty Council, Bart Ng, has called McRobbie’s reign as president “critical” to the future of relations between the two campuses. \nIUPUI has been gaining increased national respect due to its strengths in research and the sciences, especially at the university’s medical school.\nFaculty discontent at IUPUI allegedly stems from a 2005 report in which IUB was named as the flagship campus.\nNg has gone so far as to say that even though IUPUI is hopeful that McRobbie’s tenure will help give it the recognition it deserves, if it does not, the school might break off from IU within the next 15 years. (We wonder if this will be comparative to South Carolina’s secession from the Union). \nWe believe that IUPUI does deserve a significant amount of recognition and respect. \nHowever, we also feel that they are already given that recognition and respect. Everyone across the IU system is well-aware of IUPUI’s contributions. \nRosalie Vermette, IUPUI Faculty Council vice president, said that IUPUI doesn’t “want to be superior” but that it wants to be “a contributor.” \nWell then, what’s the problem? We’re sorry that IUPUI has gotten so worked up about IUB being called a flagship campus, but that’s what IUB is – a flagship campus. \nIt should also keep in mind that the “P-U” in its name stands for “Purdue University.” IUPUI is collaboration between two separate universities, how can it possibly be angry over not having flagship status? Why hasn’t it gone crying to Purdue? \nAt the end of the day, there can only be one captain and one first mate, one Marcia Brady and one Jan; one Michael Jackson and one Tito; OK, scratch that last one.
Dissent: Discussion over rank inconsequential
The involvement of IU-Purdue University at Indianapolis as a major part of IU is undeniable. As the research hub of the IU network and with the continued achievement of the medical school, IUPUI deserves the statewide respect it so desires. \nBut more important in this situation is the childishness in the continued tension between the two IU entities. Why can’t the Bloomington campus and Indianapolis campuses share in their collective achievement as a university? Blame lies on both sides. IUB is pompous about its lofty position as the flagship campus of IU. That it professes to compare academic achievement and find itself superior is against proper academic practice. IUPUI loses focus on its own achievement because it is obsessed with the inconsequential rat race.\nThe bottom line? IU, which includes all eight campuses, is a great institution for higher education. This bickering only shows inaccurately that our progression in this regard is not as far as we claim. \n–Jacob Stewart
